Cyanocitta cristata

Order

Family

Code 4

Code 6

ITIS

ILLUSTRATION

PHOTOS

CONSERVATION STATUS

The Blue Jay has a very large range, extending to around 5,640,000 square kilometers. It prefers mixed coniferous and deciduous woodlands with oak species and occurs in central and southern Canada, including Newfoundland, and the eastern United States west to Wyoming. The global breeding population of the Blue Jay is estimated to be 13,000,000 birds and evidence indicates that the population is on the rise, meaning that the bird does not meet the criteria for the IUCN Red List. It currently has an evaluation level of Least Concern.

Range and Habitat

Blue Jay: Resident species east of the Rockies, from southern Canada south to the Gulf of Mexico, but is slowly encroaching westward. Breeds as far north as central Canada. During winter, may travel into the Pacific Northwest. Preferred habitats include evergreen forests, farmlands, groves, and suburbs.

Blue Jay SONGS AND CALLS

Blue Jay C1

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Squeaky "pump-handle" whistle serves as an alert call.

Blue Jay C2

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Harsh "jeer" calls used for contact and mobbing.

Similar Sounding

Voice Text

"jay, jay, jay", "thief, thief, thief!"

INTERESTING FACTS

Captive jays have been observed using tools and strips of newspaper to rake in food pellets from outside their cages.

The Blue Jay's coloration is not derived by pigments, but is the result of light refraction due to the internal structure of the feathers; if a Blue Jay feather is crushed, the blue disappears as the structure is destroyed.

They will sometimes prey on eggs and nestlings of other birds’ nests.

A group of jays has many collective nouns, including a "band", "cast", "party", and "scold" of jays.

SIMILAR BIRDS

RANGE MAP NORTH AMERICA

About this North America Map

This map shows how this species is distributed across North America.

FAMILY DESCRIPTION

Crows and Jays (Corvidae)

ORDER

The crows, magpies and jays are one of the one hundred eighteen families of birds in the order PASSERIFORMES (pronounced pas-ser-i-FOR-meez); a large taxonomic order that includes larks, titmice, and wrens.

FAMILY TAXONOMY

The bird family that includes jays and crows, the Corvidae (pronounced COR-vi-dee), includes one hundred and twenty-six species in twenty-four genera found on all continents except for Antarctica.

NORTH AMERICA

There are forty species of Corvidae (often commonly called "Corvids") in ten genera that occur in North America (including the Hawaiian Crow, a species that has recently become extinct in the wild). Crows and ravens, raucous jays, long-tailed magpies and the Clark's Nutcracker of the high mountains are all members of this bird family.

KNOWN FOR

Members of the Corvidae are renowned for their intelligence and bold behavior. Among the smartest of birds, Common Ravens can be taught complicated tricks while the jays and nutcrackers have an amazing capacity to recall where they have cached food.

PHYSICAL

Generally medium-to-largish sized birds, Corvids such as the crows and Clark's Nutcracker have short, square tails while the tails of jays and magpies are long and graceful. All Corvids have stout, strong bills that work well for their omnivorous diet and strong legs and feet for a lifestyle both arboreal and terrestrial in nature.

COLORATION

Corvids are generally somber colored birds; the adult crows and ravens are all black while shades of gray, blue, brown, and black are the norm for other species. The exception is the Green Jay; a beautiful green and yellow bird with blue and black markings on the face.

GEOGRAPHIC HABITAT

Corvid species occupy every major habitat in North America from sun baked deserts to alpine meadows and Pacific coastal rain forests. While the Common Raven and American Crow can be found in these and other habitats, the Clark's Nutcracker and Pinyon Jay are restricted to western coniferous forests. The Steller's Jay occurs in the same evergreen forests but is replaced by different jay species in other forest types.

MIGRATION

Some of North America's hardiest bird species, only Blue Jays and American Crows fly south to escape the winter and even these are short distance migrations limited to birds that breed in regions with very harsh winters.

HABITS

Most Corvids are social, curious birds that forage in pairs or family groups that frequently communicate with harsh, rasping calls. Foraging takes place in the trees and on the ground and includes a variety of food items ranging from nuts to small animals and carrion.

CONSERVATION

Other than being susceptible to West Nile Virus, most Corvid species are fairly common, adaptable birds. Nevertheless, the Pinyon and Florida Scrub Jays are threatened by habitat loss and the Island Scrub Jay is of concern because the entire population is restricted to Santa Cruz Island off the California coast.

INTERESTING FACTS

The Clark's Nutcracker is so adapted to feeding on pine seeds that it has evolved a pouch under its tongue to store extra seeds while foraging. It caches the extra seeds at a variety of locations (many of which it amazingly remembers) and shares this knowledge with its mate. The "forgotten" seeds also help the propagation of more pine trees.